1. Reinhard Steurer: Evaluation by Governance
Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy cycles
Presentation given at the Workshop
“A Sustainable Nordic Region in a Region of Opportunities
Can the Nordic cooperation make a difference?”
Helsinki, 6 March 2007
Reinhard Steurer
ESDN Office at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability

2. Orientation
Basics about SD strategies
Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Possibilities of European Cooperation
Questions for

3. Background: The ESDN
It is an informal network of public administrators dealing with SD strategies in Europe
It aims to exchange experiences, knowledge and good practices regarding SD strategy processes
It is supported by the ESDN Office, established by a steering group of 7 countries (incl. Finland) in spring 2006

4. Background: The ESDN Office
If you want to join the ESDN, contact
Facilitate exchange of experience
and knowledge on SD strategies
Support the ESDN members
Contribute to ESDN Conferences
Assist Steering Group in developing the ESDN further
Website at
Next ESDN Conference in Berlin, 3-5 June 2007

5. ESDN Website: One-stop-shop

6. Orientation
Basics about SD strategies
Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Possibilities of European Cooperation
Questions for

7. Basics about SD strategies
SD strategies are strategic processes rather than strategic documents
SD strategy processes should follow some normative principles and key steps (or elements)
The steps (or elements) of an SD strategy form a strategy cycle
“SD cannot be achieved in one country or region in isolation”, therefore European cooperation is desirable, …
… but a difficult balancing act between coherence and national autonomy

8. Orientation
Basics about SD strategies
Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Possibilities of European Cooperation
Questions for

9. The SD strategy cycle – principles and steps
Long-term focus
Policy Integration
Participation
Reflexivity
Inspired by Volkery et al (2006): Coordination, Challenges, and Innovations in 19 National Sustainable Development Strategies, in World Development, 34/12

10. The SD strategy cycle – principles and steps
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
From political will to a common vision
From learning to strategy renewal
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
Long-term focus
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
Policy Integration
Participation
Reflexivity
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts
From action
to learning
From vision
to short- & medium- term action

11. Multiple SD strategy cycles

12. Basics about SD strategies Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Orientation
Basics about SD strategies
Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Possibilities of European Cooperation
Questions for
Colour code:
Cooperation/coordination exists
Cooperation/coordination could be improved

13. Possibilities of European Cooperation: Principles
Common understanding:
9 Policy guiding principles in EU SDS
+ precautionary principle
Long-term focus
Policy Integration
Participation
+ polluter pays
Reflexivity
“use best available knowledge”
+ fundamental rights

14. Possibilities of European Cooperation: Steps
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
European Council commitments (Gothenburg 2001, Brussels 2006?)
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
OECD & UN guidelines help defining the SD strategy approach, but
what about guidelines for a more coherent European (or Nordic) approach?
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
SD in the Amsterdam treaty
EU constitution and SD?
Council commitment to give SD strategies a legal basis
Council commitment to involve parliaments
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts

15. Possibilities of European Cooperation: Steps
Consider EU SDS priorities
Consider priorities of regional (such as the Nordic) SD strategies
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
Find “language” on how to address not only synergies
but also trade-offs
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
Develop “European approach” regarding
- Horizontal integration (inter-ministerial committees)
Vertical integration (national-regional-local)
Participation (National Councils of SD)
Reflexivity (monitoring & reviewing)
Exchange experiences on approaches taken (ESDN)
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts

16. Possibilities of European Cooperation: Steps
SD strategy elements often rather fragmented than well orchestrated, but exchange of experience in ESDN (annual conferences)
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
Little coherence on how to translate vision into measures (work/action plans become more popular)
Little coherence on how to translate vision into measures (work/action plans become more popular)
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
Exchange (workshops) on which policy instruments work best for what purpose (within the ESDN)
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts
More coherent use of impact assessment methods
From vision
to short- & medium- term action

17. Possibilities of European Cooperation: Steps
EU SDS process:
SD coordinator reporting
Peer review initiative
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
All countries apply SD indicator monitoring
but differences regarding
indicators used
reporting schemes
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
Exchange on advantages and disadvantages of different review approaches (within the ESDN)
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts

18. The SD strategy cycle – principles and steps
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
From learning to strategy renewal
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
Towards a common European cycle of strategy renewal (in line with EU SDS)?
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts

19. Orientation
Basics about SD strategies
Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles
Possibilities of European Cooperation
Questions for

20. Questions for
1. Political commitment & guidance
Political mandate
Definition of approach
Legal (constitutional basis)
Adapt PM declaration on SD from 1998 (in line with EU SDS)?
Towards a common Nordic cycle of strategy renewal (in line with the EU & the Nordic Strategy)?
2. Strategy formulation
Long-term and integrative objectives
Synergies & trade-offs
Procedural guidance regarding the 4 principles
Long-term focus
4. Reviewing & monitoring
Performance monitoring
Process review & evaluation
Policy Integration
Participation
Reflexivity
Coherence with other supra-national processes (Baltic 21, Arctic C., Barents C.)?
More procedural guidance for national SD strategies?
3. The implementation process
- Budgets, work/action plans
Orchestrate strategy ele- ments & policy instruments
Assess & consider SD impacts
Peer reviewing as European cooperation in Nordic countries?
Cooperation with ESDN?

21. Reinhard Steurer: Evaluation by Governance
Thank you!
Reinhard Steurer
ESDN Office at the
RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability
Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
Vienna, Austria